ML20136J072

Responds to IE Info Notices 85-42 & 85-81 in Response to Joint Intervenors Appeal of ASLB Ruling in Favor of Applicant on Contention IV Re Use of Tlds.Svc List,Info Notices & Board Notification 85-083 Encl

ML20136J072
Person / Time
Site:	Harris
Issue date:	11/20/1985
From:	Oneill J CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT CO., NORTH CAROLINA MUNICIPAL POWER AGENCIES, SHAW, PITTMAN, POTTS & TROWBRIDGE
To:	Gotchy R, Moore T, Wilber H NRC ATOMIC SAFETY & LICENSING APPEAL PANEL (ASLAP)
References
CON-#485-285 IEIN-85-042, IEIN-85-081, IEIN-85-42, IEIN-85-81, OL, NUDOCS 8511250273
Download: ML20136J072 (16)

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• amauevse see wi.oisem RSC ARO .. ..A Y me..R... CONN coWN..L November 20, 1985 202/822-1148 Thomas S. Moore, Esquire Dr. Reginald L'. Gotchy Chairman Atomic Safety and Licensing Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board Appeal Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Washington, D.C. 20555 Mr. Howard A. Wilber Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 In'the Matter of Carolina Power & Light Company and North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant)

Docket No. 50-400 OL Administrative Judges Moore, Gotchy and Wilber:

The Joint Intervenors in this proceeding have appealed from the Licensing roard's decision ruling in favor of Appli-cants on Joint Contention IV, which concerns Applicants' use of thermoluminescent dosimeters ("TLDs"). The Appeal Board and the parties were notified, by letter of October 2, 1985, from the NRR Division of Licensing, that the Office of Inspection 0511250273 851120 PDR ADOCK 05000400 g PDR h $O).

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SHAW, PITTMAN, PoTTs & TROWBRIDGE A PARTNER 3 Map INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONS November 20, 1985 Page 2 and Enforcement had issued an information notice (IN 85-42) on an anomaly relating to TLDs manufactured by Panasonic, such as Applicants intend to use at the Harris facility (Attachment 1).

On October 17, 1985 the Office of Inspection and Enforcement issued an additional information notice (IN 85-81) concerning the Panasonic TLDs (Attachment 2). We are writing to inform the Appeal Board of Applicants' responses to those two notices.

IN 85-42 alerted licensees and applicants to the fact that loose phospor elements in some Panasonic TLD badges have re-sulted in erratically high readings. Although no specific ac-tion or written response was required by the information no-tice, Applicants undertook an internal investigation of the potential problem. The results of that internal investigation were set forth in a memorandum, a copy of which is attached hereto for the Appeal Board's information (Attachment 3). As the memorandum indicates, Carolina Power & Light company

("CP&L") has observed one instance of a loose phospor element, in a TLD used at the H.B. Robinson facility. This is the only case of a loose phospor that has been observed in the 30,000 Panasonic TLD badges used by CP&L. The problem can be detected during the periodic check of TLD badges or, as it was in the observed case, in an inspection performed for the purposes of investigating an abnormally high reading.

IN 85-81 notified licensees and applicants who use Panasonic TLDs of two additional potential sources of errone-ously high readings. In some cases anomalously high readings have been reported when the lead filters in badges became con-taminated with trace amounts of naturally occurring radioiso-

! topes. In another case, an unexpectedly high measurement was obtained upon reading the badge of an employee at CP&L's l

Brunswick facility who had been working on cleaning decayed ma-rine life out of the plant intake structure. Although no actu-al radiation exposure was expected or incurred in this environ-ment, the H 2 S gas given off by decaying marine life caused the TLD to regi5ter an abnormally high response.

On November 15, 1985 CP&L prepared a memorandum setting forth the results of its internal investigation of the two po-tential problems addressed in IN 85-81. A copy of the memoran-dum is attached hereto for the Appeal Board's information (At-tachment 4). Contaminated lead filters had been observed at CP&L and the affected badges had been removed from service. In the future, all new TLD badges will be screened for self-irradiation effects. With regard to the high response caused by H 2 S gas, CP&L instituted a system of sealing the TLD badge

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SH Aw, PITTM AN, POTTs & TROWBRIDGE A PARTNERSHsP INCsuOtNG PeoF(SSCNAL CCRPORATONS November 20, 1985 l Page 3 l l

inside a gastight, impermeable container. This eliminated the  !

effect of H 7 S on TLD badges. CP&L also has incorporated infor-mation about the problem caused by exposure to H S into its processing procedures and has issued a memorandud to employees at its three plants discussing the effectiveness of various protective coverings for the.TLD badges. No further instances of this anomaly have been observed.

Applicants believe that they have made an adequate re-sponse to the issues raised in the information notices and have taken appropriate measures to ensure that the erroneous readings do not occur again. Moreover, each of the detected anomalies has resulted in an erratically high TLD reading.

Therefore the potential sources of error have not and will not affect Applicants' ability to protect the health and safety of their personnel.

R pe .ful y suhkitte ,

Joh H. O'Neill, Jr. lr*5' l j

A Cou sel for Applicants v cc: Service List attached JHO:jb

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DC L d:. i : l I U3NRC UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

'85 NOV 22 All:01 i BEFORE THE ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING APPEAL BOARD OF nL L u : uh W 00CKETING & SEPM--

In the Matter of BRANCH

)

)

CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY ) Docket No. 50-400 OL and NORTH CAROLINA EASTERN )

MUNICIPAL POWER AGENCY )

)

(Shearon Harris Nuclear Power )

Plant) )

SERVICE LIST Thomas S. Moore, Esquire Charles A. Barth, Esquire Chairman _ Janice E. Moore, Esquire Atomic Safety and Licensing Office of Executive Legal Director Appeal Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commmission Washington, D.C. 20555 '

Washington, D.C. 20555 Docketing and Service Section Dr. Reginald L. Gotchy Office of the Secretary Atomic Safety and Licensing U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Appeal Board Washington, D.C. 20555 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Mr. Daniel F. Read, President CHANGE Mr. Howard A. Wilber P.O. Box 2151 Atomic Safety and Licensing Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 Appeal Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 John D. Runkle, Esquire Conservation Council of James L. Kelley, Esquire North Carolina A om c Safety and Licensing Board Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 M. Travis Payne, Esquire Edelstein and Payne P.O. Box 12607 Atom c Saf ty and Licensing Board Raleigh, North Carolina 27605 i

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20S55 Dr. Richard D. Wilson 729 Hunter Street Dr. James H. Carpenter Apex, North Carolina 27502 Atomic = Safety and Licensing Board

, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 y e-, - - - - - - -

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Mr. Wells Eddleman 806 Parker Street Durham, NC 27701 Richard E. Jones, Esquire Vice President and Senior Counsel Carolina Power & Light Company P.O. Box 1551 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 Dr. Linda W. Little Governor's Waste Management Board 513 Albemarle Building 325 North Salisbury Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27611 Bradley W. Jones, Esquire U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II 101 Marrietta Street Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Mr. Robert P. Gruber Executive Director ,

Public Staff - NCUC P.O. Box 991 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 Administrative Judge Harry Foreman Box 395 Mayo University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 H. A. Cole, Jr., Esquire Special Deputy Attorney General 200 New Bern Avenue Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

l ATTACHMENT 1  !

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'o UNITED STATES E" 7. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION h WASHINGTON. D. C. 20555 O E

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00T 2 1985 Docket No.: 50-400 MEMORANDUM FOR: Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board for Shearon Harris, Unit 1 (T. S. Moore, R. L. Gotchy, H. A. Wilber)

FROM: Thomas M. Novak, Assistant Director for Licensing Division of Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

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SUBJECT:

SHEARON HARRIS NUCLEAR POWER STATION - PANASONIC THERM 0 LUMINESCENT DOSIMETER (TLD)

(BOARD NOTIFICATION NO. 8S-083)

In accordance with NRC procedures for Board Notifications, the enclosed IE Information. Notice which describes an annomaly relating to a Panasonic TLD, -

is provided for your information. The panasonic TLD was one of the admitted contentions in the Shearon Harris licensing proceedings.

By copy of this memorandum the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board and the parties to the Shearon Harris proceeding are provided the same information.

Thomas M. Novak, Assistant Director

... for Licensing

. Division of Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation--

Enclosure:

As stated cc: J. L. Kelly, ASLB G. O. Bright, ASLB J. H. Carpenter, ASLB EDO ACRS (10)

Parties to the Proceeding 8510020462

/

1 l

DISTRIBUTION LIST FOR BOARD NOTIFICATION Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1&2 Docket Nos. 50-400/401 Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Docketing and Service Section Document Management Branch Mr. Glenn 0. Bright Dr. James H. Carpenter H. A. Cole, Jr. , Esq.

Wells Eddleman Dr. Harry Foreman Mr. Robert P.,Gruber Bradley W. Jones, Esq.

Richard E: Jones, Esq.

James L. Kelley, Esq.

Dr. Linda W. Little Mr.LTravis Payne Spence W. Perry, Esq. -

Mr. Daniel F. Read Mr. Steven Rochlis Mr. John Runkle George F. Trowbridge, Esq.

Richard D. Wilson, M.D.

Mr. E. E. Utley M. David Gordon, Esq.

Thomas S. Erwin, Esq.

Resident Inspector / Harris NPS Charles D. Barham, Jr. , Esq.

Mr. George Jackson, Secretary Regionai Administrator, Region 11 s

Enclosure O'#

5 No.: 6835 IN 85-42 I -

UNITED STATES l NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT I i WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555  !

May 29, 1985 IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 85-42: LOOSE PHOSPHOR IN PANASONIC 800 SERIES BADGE THERM 0 LUMINESCENT DOSIMETER (TLD) ELEMENTS i

Addressees:

All holders of a nuclear power plant operating license (OL) or a construction permit (CP). ,

Purpose:

! This information notice is provided to alert NRC licensees to a problem noted in some Panasonie 800 series TLD badges that has caused spurious high readings in one of the badges' TLD elements,. This information is intended to assist ,

lice,nsees in diagnosing any spurious readings with the Panasonic TLD system. ,

It is expected that recipients will review the information provided for appli- '

, cability, if appropriate, to their dosimetry programs. However, suggestions contained in this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.

~. -

l Description of Circumstances:

The Panasonic 800 series TLD badge contains a card that holds four TLD ele-ments. Each TLD element consists of a thin film of TL phosphor attached to a

disk backing with a clear teflon bubble cover. During reading, the phosphor is heated by convarging infrared light on the backing. The luminescence froid the l

phosphor (which is proportional to the dose received) radiates through the teflon cover and is read with a photomultiplier tube.

Several Panasonic TLD users (including NRC's Region I) have identified badges

)

where crystals of the phosphor have detached themselves from the backing of the

, element -resulting in high erratic readings in that element. When viewed through a stereoscopic microscope, phosphor crystals can be observed sticking to the teflon cover (presumably.by electrostatic charge). In this position, the loose TL material is not in contact with the backing and does not get heated when the badge is read. These TL crystals remain at an elevated energy state and continue to accumulate dose. Apparently erratically high readings result when the loose crystals are shaken back onto the backing surface during a subsequent reading. They are then heated and luminescence proportional to the total doses received during several read cycles is produced. This process can cause the affected element to erroneously read as much as an order of magnitude higher than the other elements in the same card. Although the

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Attachment 1 s

IN 85-42 May 29, 1985 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Date of Notice No. Subject Issue Issued to 85-41 Scheduling Of Pre-Licensing 5/24/85 All power reactor Emergency Preparedness facilities holding Exercises a CP 85-40 Deficiencies In Equipment 5/22/85 All power reactor Qualification Testing And facilities holding Certification Process an OL or CP 85-39 Auditability of Electrical 5/22/85 All power reactor Equipment Qualification facilities holding Records At Licensees' an OL or CP Facilities .

85-38 Loose Parts Obstruct Control 5/21/85 All PWR facilities

, Ro,d Drive Mechanism' d'esigned by B&W holding an OL or.CP 85-37 Chemical Cleaning Of Steam 5/14/85 All pressure water Generator At Milestone 2 reactor facilities holding an OL or CP 84-55 Seal Table Leaks At PWRs 5/14/85 All power reactor Sup. 1 -

facilities holdtng an OL or CP 85-20 Motor-Operated Valve Failures 5/14/85 All power reactor Sup. 1 '

Due To" Hammering Effect facilities holding an OL or CP ,,

85-36 Malfunction Of A Dry-Storage, 5/9/85 All licensees Panoramic, Gamma Exposure possessing gamma i Irradiator irradiators S4-52 Inadequate Material 5/8/85 All power reactor Sup. 1 Procurement Controls On facilities holding The Part Of Licensees And an OL or CP Vendors I

l l

OL = Operating License CP = Construction Permit

( IN 85-42 May 29, 1985 Page 2 of 2 frequency of occurrence is small (one licensee found only one problem badge in 30,000), there is evidence that the frequency increases substantially once the badges have been thro' ugh 100-200- read cycles.

Panasonic has a manufacturing quality control (QC) specification on the amount of loose phosphor in an element. However, physical shock and thermal cycles, experienced during badge use, appear to loosen additional material. Panasonic '

has stated that they have modified their QC program to provide a greater-physical challenge to the badge before they are screened. For those badges already in use, licensees can visually inspect any TLD elements suspected of l

having loose TL crystals. Panasonic has been exchanging badges identified as having excessive loose TL material.

No specific action or written response is required by tais information notice.

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional office or this office.

l

]

wr Lf Jordan, Director .

l Divi on.of Emergency Preparedness -

an Engineering Response Office of Inspection and Enforcement

! Technical Contacts: R. L. Pedersen, IE (301) 492-2967 -

l J. E. Wigginton, IE (301) 492-9425 l

Attachment:

- List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices e

J

i SSINS No.: 6835 ATTACHMENT 2 IN 85-81 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC ?tCUMENT h October 17, 1985 15 BCT 22 A9:45 IEINFORMATIONN$QC%EkhEg8-81: PRDBLEMS RESULTING IN ERR 0NEOUSLY HIGH READING WITH PANASONIC 800 SERIES

THERM 0 LUMINESCENT DOSIMETERS Addressees:

All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license (0L) or a construction permit (CP) and certain materials and fuel cycle licensees who may use the subject thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs).

Purpose:

Information Notices IN 82-42 " Defects Observed in Panasonic Model 801 and 802 TLD's" and IN 85-42 " Loose Phosphor.in Panasonic 800 Series Badge TLD Elements" discussed two separate problems with Panasonic TLD's that resulted in erroneous exposure measurements with the badges.

This information notice is provided.to inform the licensees of two additional problems that have resulted in erroneously high readings with Panasonic 800-series TLDs. It is expected th't a licensees will review this information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, if appropriate, to preclude a similar problem occurring at their facilities. However, suggestions contained in this information notice da not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or wr.itten response is required.

Description of Circumstances:

1. Self-Irradiation From Contaminated Lead Filters:

Several Panasonic TLD users have recently experienced anomalously high readings. On investigation, it was determined that the lead filters in the badges were contaminated with trace amounts of naturally occurring radioisotopes. The lead filters (on both sides of the TLD elements) are used to compensate for the energy dependence of calcium sulfate phosphor.

The lead used for these filters appears to be contaminated with radium-226 daighters. Bismuth-210 is a major dose contributor. Low level radiation fram these contaminants contributed up to 15 mrem in 30 days to the TLD elements. During the initial investigation of the anomalous readings, several TLD badges were counted using a gamma spectroscopy system. This technique was unable to identify contaminated lead filters because of the low activity of gamma emitting contaminants. However, when lead filters were recounted using a thin-wi'ndow Geiger-Muller (GM) detector, they were found to be contaminated with beta emitting radioisotopes.

8510150025

IN 85-81 Il Octobir 17, 1985

i l

Page 2 of 3 Panasonic TLD's can be screened for contaminated filters by placing several-

. in a low background thin-window GM counter. Licensees wishing to use this screening technique should select a counting time sufficien't to provide an o acceptable lower limit of detection.(5 pCi beta per gram of lead) for their system. Panasonic is currently negotiating the repl,acement.of badges on a case-by-case basis, i

2. Abnormal TLD Readings Caused by Hydrogen Sulfide (H25) Gas On May 6, 1985, an unexpectedly high reading was indicated during a routine TLD processing of a terminating contract worker leaving the Brunswick Steam Electric Plant. The worker had been employed to clean marine life out of the plants intake structure, an area where no radiation is expected. He was issued a TLD because access to the job site was through the plant's protected area. The worker's TLD (Panasonic Madel 00-802) indicated 13,500 and 457 millirem on elements 1 and 2, respectively (both lithium borate TLQ material), with 1.2 and 1.4 millirem indicated on elements 3 and 4, respectively (calciur' sulfate TLD material). On; investigation, the licensee has concluded that the abnormal TLD response was caused by exposure to H 2 S gas given off by the cer ying marine life in the intake structure. Extensive testing by the licen.,e indicates that exposure to H S2 causes gross over-response from lithium borate TLD material. Multiple' exposures to concentrations as low as 10 parts per million (ppm) over a 12-hour period caused responses that

.correspcnd to 250 millirem of radiation exposure. Indication as high as 4870 millirem were obtained from a 4-hour exposure to 114 ppm H 25-Several agents (such as chemical co'taminants, n ultraviolet light or extreme humidity) are known to cause abnormal TLD responses. Licensees may wish to provide appropriate means of protecting the TLD when exposure to these agents is lim 1y. However, licensees should ensure that protective coverings or containers uo not inhibit the TLDs ability to properly respond to actual radiation exposure.

No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional office or this office.

j r L Divisio o

A ~

n, Director

~

f Emergency Preparedness and En ineering Response Office of Inspection and Enforcement Technical :ontacts: RogerPedersen,IE,!

(301)492-9425 Jim Wiggintor !E i (301)492-496:

Attatnments: .ist of Recently Issued IE Information Notices

- a. ,

Attachment 1 1

IN 85-81 October 17, 1985 -

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Date of Notice No. Subject Issue Issued to i

85-80 Timely Declaration Of An 10/15/85 All power reactor l

Emergency Class Implementa- facilities holding l

' tion Of An Emergency Plan, an OL or CP And Emergency Notifications 85-17 Possible Sticking Of ASCO 10/1/85 All power reactor Sup. 1 Solenoid Valves facilities holding an OL or CP q

85-79 Inadequate Communications 9/30/85 All power reactor Between Maintenance, facilities holding Operations, And Security: an OL or CP; research Personnel and nonpower reactor

- facilities; fuel fabrication and processing facilities 85-78 Event Notification 9/23/85 All power reactor facilities holding an OL or CP Possible Loss Of Emergency 9/20/85 All power reactor 85-77 Notification System Due To facilities holding Loss Of AC Power an OL or CP 85-76 Recent Water Hammer Events 9/19/85 All power reactor facilities holding an OL or CP 85-75 improperlyInstalledInstru- 8/30/85 All power reactor mentation, Inadequate Quality facilities holding Control And Inadequate Post- an OL or CP modification Testing 85-74 Station Battery Problems' , 8/29/85 All power reactor facilities holding an OL or CP Reliance On Water Level 8/26/85 All power reactor 84-70 facilities holding Sup. 1 Instrumentation With A Common Reference Leg an OL or CP OL = Operating License CP = Construction Permit

ATTACHMENT 3 Form 204 Carolina Power & Light Company h% ceca ~.'.::*:'r'.'C-- I company corresponcene. New Hill, North Carolina June 26,1985 File: 13510F Serial: NO-85-H945 MEMORANDUM TO: Mr. A. G. Cheatham, III Mr. J. R. Sipp Mr. R. M. Smith 2 ROM: B. H. Webster

SUBJECT:

Response to IE Information Notice 85-42, " Loose Phosphor in Panasonic 800 Series Badge Thermoluminescent Dosimeter (TLD) Elements" The attached IE Information Notice 85-42 describes a problem with loose phosphor in Panasonic TLD badges like those used at CP&L. Loose phosphor can cause erratic response and high readings for the affected elements.

Several months ago loose phosphor was found to be the cause of an abnormal TLD element reading in one area monitoring badge at H.B. Robinson.

'Ihis is the only documented case of loose phosphor which has been observed in 30,000 TLD badges at CP&L.

All TLD badges at CP&L are tested periodically for proper response. In addition, and tested.any badges which exhibit abnormal readings are inspected for damage Any occurrences of loose phosphor in TLD badges at CP&L will be identified service. through these means and the affected badges will be removed from The above constitutes an adequate response to IE Information Notice 85-

42. No further action in response to this notice is planned.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

e m ,. .

B . H. J.;.. . A SAB/vvf Attachment ec: Messrs. D. N. Allen D. L. Erickson R. T. Biggerstaff R. E. Helme C.S.Bohanan R. L. Mayton  !

H. W. Bowles J. A. Padgett S. A. Browne / D. C. Stadler K. E. Engor A. R. Wallace

ATTACi1 MENT 4 Form 244 ,

, Caronna Power & Light Company comoany corr soono.nc, New Hill, North Carolina November 15,1985 File: 13510F Serial: NO-85-H1695 MEMORANDUM TO: Mr. A. G. Cheatham, IU Mr. J. R. Sipp-Mr. R. M. Smith FROM: B. H. Webster

SUBJECT:

Response to IE Information Notice 85-81,

" Problems Resulting in Erroneously High Reading with Panasonic 800 Series Thermoluminescent Dosimeters" The attached IE Information Ndee 85-81 discusses two problems that have affected readings for Panasonic TLD badges like those used at CP&L. Both of the problems have been observed at CP&L and actions have been taken as described below:

1. Self-Irradiation from Contaminated Lead Filters:

Contaminated lead filters have been observed in some environmental and personnel TLD badges used at CP&L. Self-Irradiation was first noted in the environmental badges because of the interference it caused in measuring very low doses.

Subsequently, the problem was recognized in some personnel badges which were being used for background control purposes. AH of the affected environmental badges have been removed from service and replacement badge holders have been received from Panasonic. All of the affected personnel badges have been identified and Panasonic has agreed 'to replace the holders on these badges. On personnel badges only Element 4 is affected by the contaminated filters. Elements 1 and 2, which are normally used for estimating shallow dose to the skin and deep dose to the whole body, respectively, are imaffected.

Element 3, which is not normally used, is also unaffected. In addition to replacing the contaminated badge holders, all new' batches of TLD badges received in the future will be screened for self-Irradiation effects.

4 I M:morandum . Novsmber 15,1985 I

2. Abnormal Readings Caused by Hydrogen Sulfide (H25) Gas:

Panasonie has performed tests to confirm that H 2S gas does cause abnormally high response on lithium borate TLD phosphor which is used in Elements 1 and 2 of the TLD badge.

Interference from H 52 een be avoided by sealing the TLD badge inside a gestight, impermeable container. This method has proven successful in eliminating the effect of H25 on TLD be%es at the Brunswick Plant. Information about the interference of H is has been incorporated into the TLD badge processing procedures along with the most recent information available about other possible. causes of abnormal readings. In addition, a memo was issued on June 24,1985, to the Radiation Control supervisors at the three nuclear plants which discussed the effectiveness of various protective coverings against H28 and provided advice concerning beta exposure in the event the TLD is enclosed inside a protective covering. No further problems with H 2S gas interference have been observed at any CP&L facility since the occurrence described in the notice.

We consider the above to constitute an adequate response to IE Information Notice 85-81.- No fnarther action in response to this notice is planned.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Origins 1 Signed By B. H. WEBSTER SAB/are Attachment i ce: Messrs: D. N. Allen l E. T. Biggerstaff C. S. Bohanan ,

H. W. Bowles S. A. Browne /

J. M. Curley E. L Ensor B. E. Helme R. I. Mayton A. M. McCauley B. A. Meyer J. A. Padgett

.